HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS BASKETBALL: RV, Willingboro advance to state title games

DEPTFORD — Rancocas Valley and Willingboro romped to easy state semifinal wins last night to join fellow Burlington Liberty Division rival Trenton Catholic Academy in advancing to the NJSIAA Girls Basketball state championship games this weekend at the Pine Belt Arena at Toms River North High.

After TCA blew out defending champ Gill St. Bernard’s to win the South Jersey Non-Public B title Wednesday at Jackson Liberty, 28-1 RV and 24-4 Willingboro won just as impressively in the Group II and Group IV state semifinal doubleheader last night at Deptford High.

Willingboro got the big night going with a 56-39 victory over Shore Conference power Rumson Fair Haven, then RV followed with a 52-37 rout of Washington Township.

RV and ‘Boro shared the Liberty regular-season title at 9-1 and TCA was third at 6-4.

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Led by Lauren Moses dominating double/double that saw the 6-foot-2 junior score 22 points, grab 22 rebounds and block six shots, RV moved on to play Sunday against Paterson Eastside, which won the North Jersey semifinal over East Orange, 46-42.

Tipoff time for the RV and ‘Boro games won’t be announced by the NJSIAA until today, while TCA’s Non-Public B title game with Morris Catholic has been scheduled for noon Saturday.

Willingboro’s win advanced it to face Shabazz, the No. 1 ranked team in the state after Vanessa Watson’s girls won the North Jersey II semifinal routing Glen Rock.

Michaya Owens contributed 16 points, 12 rebounds, four blocks and three steals to lead ‘Boro, and Imani Stepney added 10 points and 10 boards. Maya Mosley, who hit the first of her three 3-pointers to put ‘Boro on top to stay (3-2) just 75 seconds into the game, finished with 10 points, while Vanessa Francis had 10 points and eight boards for the only team to beat RV this season.

RV never trailed, and used a 10-0 second quarter run to go up 41-24 at the break as Brianna Logan and Jazmyne Lewis hit 3-pointers in the run and Virginia recruit Moses ended it with two free throws.